There are three ways to sign up for Medicare. You may use some or all of these ways depending on when you are registering for Medicare.
You can complete the enrollment forms and either drop them off at a local Social Security office or mail the forms to them, call Social Security on the phone and enroll over the phone or go onto the Social Security website and sign up on the website. Which of these methods you can use depends on when you are applying for Medicare. Included at the bottom of this article are links to the forms, Social Security contact page and online Medicare application at the Social Security website.
Here are three situations you may fall into. Read through the one that fits your situation to determine which method you can use to apply for Medicare.
UNDER 65 AND ON DISABILITY
If you are under age 65 and on disability you become eligible for Medicare starting your 25th month on disability. You can then apply for Medicare by either going into a local Social Security office or calling Social Security and enrolling over the phone.
Those people on disability will have a 2nd enrollment period during their 65th birth month as well. No need to re-apply during your 65th birth month for a new card – you will keep your existing Medicare ID card. This is an opportunity though to change your coverage to a Medicare Supplement plan if you are on a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa.
TURNING 65 AND GOING ONTO MEDICARE FOR THE FIRST TIME
If you are turning 65 soon and want to enroll into Medicare there is a weird timing rule that you should know.
You can start the application process three months before your 65th birth month and your Medicare coverage will become effective the first of the month you turn 65. (Unless you are born on the first of the month – if so, Medicare begins your insurance coverage the first of the month before your birth month.) If you apply during the month that you turn 65 your Medicare starts your Medicare insurance the first of the next month.
If you apply the month after you turn 65 it won’t just start the first of the next month. They give you a one month waiting penalty so your Medicare will be effective in two months or the 3rd month after your birth month. If you sign up for Medicare two months after your 65th birth month they give you a two month waiting penalty so your Medicare becomes effective three months later—or the 5th month after your
birth month. Finally, if you enroll three months after your 65th birthday month they give you a three month waiting period penalty so your Medicare becomes effective the seventh month after your 65th birth month.
During this 7 month period around your 65th birthday you can sign up using any method available– going into a local Social Security office, mailing the forms to them, calling the Social Security 800 number to enroll over the phone or going onto their website to sign up.
GOING ONTO MEDICARE AFTER AGE 65 BECAUSE YOU HAD HEALTH COVERAGE ELSEWHERE
If you are applying past age 65 because you were on group insurance through either your employer or your spouse’s employer you must complete 2 forms and either drop those forms off at the Social Security office or mail them in.
One form verifies that you had creditable coverage from age 65 up until your planned retirement date. The second form notifies them that your employer coverage is going to terminate and that you need to start Medicare. Please see the links listed to the forms listed at the bottom of this article. Note that these forms are current as of May 2020. Please do a search online to ensure that they have not updated the forms since you must use the most current form.
ORIGINAL MEDICARE OR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
Of course once you enroll into Medicare you only have part A and Part B coverage. You are not done. Part A and Part B do not give you prescription coverage and also leave you 20% co-insurance after the deductibles. That is too much financial risk that you should not carry yourself.
You need to decide if you are going to use Part A and Part B coverage and add on a Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug Plan or sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. Please refer to this article on the Pro’s and Con’s of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage to decide which coverage is better for you.
IF YOU NEED ADVICE OR HELP
If you have any questions or want professional advice for your situation please call, email or text us and we’ll be happy to advise and assist you. We are professional Medicare shoppers contracted with the insurance carriers so that we can work for you for FREE.
By representing just about every insurance company around we can be sure to find you the best coverage for your needs. The insurance companies pay us to help you find the best plan, enroll into that plan and provide ongoing service to you.
LINKS
Here is the link to find a local Social Security office: https://www.ssa.gov/locator/
The website to apply online for Medicare benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/
The phone number to sign up for Medicare over the phone is 800-772-1213.Here is their contact website: https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/phone.html
Here is the link to the form you must complete if you have Part A but not Part B: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms-Items/CMS017339
Here is the link to the form to verify that you had employer coverage: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms-Items/CMS009718
Jason Newby, CEO
Keys To Medicare
Jason has been helping people shop for Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage plans for almost 20 years. A nationally recognized agency, Keys To Medicare, helps you understand the pro’s and con’s of the coverages available to make sure you get the best coverage for your situation. In addition to helping you sign up, we do annual reviews to make sure you continue to have the best coverage possible.
